JIT head directed to approach SC for de-sealing of Volume-X

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court (AC) Islamabad Tuesday directed JIT head Wajid Zia to seek the Supreme Court's permission for de-sealing of Volume-X of Joint Investigation Team's (JIT) report.

AC Judge Muhammad Bashir issued the directive while hearing the Avenfield London property reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Sharif family when Wajid Zia informed the court that Volume X would help him answer the questions raised by the defence side during cross-examination and for the purpose he was ready to request the Supreme Court to allow its de-sealing.

Giving answers to queries by defence counsel Khawaja Haris, the JIT head said the Supreme Court had sealed Volume-X on the request of the investigation team.

Replying a question during the cross-examination, Wajid Zia said Tariq Shafi had taken a loan from BCCI in 1986 for doing business and the JIT had not found any document showing that the loan had been repaid. Similarly, there was no record of selling of shares of Ahli Steel Mills during 1978 to 1980 with the JIT as only Tariq Shafi had told the investigation team that the money collected from selling the shares (of Ahli Steel Mills) was used to pay the loan, he added.

He said the JIT sent four letters to the United Arab Emirates government under the mutual legal assistance programme.

The hearing was adjourned till Wednesday when the cross-examination of JIT head will continue.

Earlier, the court granted a one-day exemption to former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz from attending the Avenfield reference proceedings.

The Sharif family’s counsel informed the court that the former prime minister and his daughter could not attend today's proceedings as their flight was not allowed to take off due to rainy weather in Lahore and sought one-day exemption from their court appearance. However, Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar was present in the court.